Author: Philip J. Ivanhoe File Type: pdf At the center of a constellation of key ideas in East Asian philosophical traditions, there lies a conception of oneness among human beings. Human beings are intricately and inextricably intertwined and share a common destiny with other people, creatures, and things. The ramifications of this idea are wide-reaching, and resonate with important debates and concerns in contemporary Western philosophy, but many at the forefront of their fields in the West are unaware of the fundamental shift in perspective that might be available to them. One of Ivanhoes aims in this work is to challenge the dominant paradigm of hyper-individualism, which still enjoys a commanding position in a great deal of contemporary theory and practice in the humanities and social sciences, and to describe and advocate for an alternative conception and sense of self, world, and the relationship between them. In particular, Ivanhoe, who has an extensive background in and has published influential work on virtue ethics and Asian philosophy, investigates the implications of oneness for conceptions of the self, virtue, and human happiness. Through the lens of oneness, he explores topics such as conceptions of the self, selfishness and self-centeredness, virtues, spontaneity, and happiness, drawing support from wide-ranging, interdisciplinary sources. Rather than starting from the standpoint of Western philosophy and then reaching out to Asian philosophy from a distance, Ivanhoe advances a thesis drawn from East Asian sources and explicitly challenges the theoretical asymmetry that is characteristic of most comparative study, which often simply applies Western theories to non-Western material. **

Author: Steven J. Brams File Type: pdf A game-theoretical analysis of interactions between a human being and an omnipotent and omniscient godlike being highlights the inherent unknowability of the latters superiority.In Divine Games, Steven Brams analyzes games that a human being might play with an omnipotent and omniscient godlike being. Drawing on game theory and his own theory of moves, Brams combines the analysis of thorny theological questions, suggested by Pascals wager (which considers the rewards and penalties associated with belief or nonbelief in God) and Newcombs problem (in which a godlike being has near omniscience) with the analysis of several stories from the Hebrew Bible. Almost all of these stories involve conflict between God or a surrogate and a human player their representation as games raises fundamental questions about Gods superiority.In some games God appears vulnerable (after Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit in defiance of His command), in other games his actions seem morally dubious (when He subjects Abraham and Job to extreme tests of their faith), and in still other games He has a propensity to hold grudges (in preventing Moses from entering the Promised Land and in undermining the kingship of Saul). If the behavior of a superior being is indistinguishable from that of an ordinary human being, his existence would appear undecidable, or inherently unknowable. Consequently, Brams argues that keeping an open mind about the existence of a superior being is an appropriate theological stance.**ReviewBrams has done it again. This challenging but rewarding book raises fundamental philosophical questions about the nature and existence of God and exposes the reader to the intricacies of decision and game theory. It should be of interest to philosophers, theologians, applied game theorists, many social scientists, and others who think deeply about superior beings of all ilks.Frank C. Zagare, UB Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University at Buffalo author of The Games of July Explaining the Great War (Endorsement) For millennia, theological thinking nourished and stimulated decision and game theory. From William of Ockham to Leibniz, from Pascal to Bayes, questions about Gods existence and properties gave rise to the most fundamental concepts of the field. It takes a thinker as original and profound as Steven Brams to start paying back this intellectual debt.Itzhak Gilboa, Professor of Economics, Tel Aviv University and HEC, Paris (Endorsement) Professor Bramss work in the intersection of game theory and the philosophy of religion has been trailblazing and Divine Games extends that work in original ways, especially as it shows the relevance of game theory to biblical interpretation. Students will find this book an interesting and accessible introduction to game theory.Jeff Jordan, Professor of Philosophy, University of Delaware author of Pascals Wager Pragmatic Arguments and Belief in God (Endorsement) About the Author Steven J. Brams is Professor of Politics at New York University. He is the author of Biblical Games Game Theory and the Hebrew Bible and Game Theory and the Humanities Bridging Two Worlds, both published by the MIT Press, and other books.